Solutions

AC Live

We believe your animals were meant to fly, whether they have wings or not.

At Air Canada Cargo, an animal's safety and comfort are our top priorities. While air travel can be stressful to passengers, it can be extremely difficult for animals.

AC Live is Air Canada Cargo's designated shipping solution for live animals. It is designed to ensure the comfort and safety of all animals:

Designated agents for bookings and questions about live shipments*

Priority1 service level

Specially trained staff to care of animals while under our care

Bonded kennel facility in Toronto for comfort stops for pets in transit

Once within our care, animals are brought to specialized rooms* for safety and comfort and are transported to the aircraft in dedicated vehicles.

*At select stations only.

AC Live shipments can be designated as:

Pets - Cats and dogs

Animals - For all other types of live animals (warm and cold blooded)

Aquatics / Insects - For live fish, coral, bees, etc.

All Animals must be brought to an Air Canada Cargo facility and retrieved at arrival.

Not all cities served by Air Canada have cargo facilities. All Cargo stations are listed in our Contact us section.

Flying in the Cargo Hold

Animals booked with AC Live fly in the cargo hold, along with baggage and other cargo and don't need to be accompanied.

The cargo holds on all of our aircraft are pressurized and most of our aircraft also have temperature-controlled cargo compartments. If temperature control is needed but not available on the route you book your animal on, the booking agent will suggest a different route or an alternate travel date.

Kennels are secured so as not to move about in-flight, and are placed for maximum ventilation.

What type of travel is best for my pet?

It depends on a few things, but mostly your pet's size and weight. The table below summarizes the 3 options that are available to you.

Make sure to follow the links to view detailed rules, restrictions and chargesfor each option.

Shipping restrictions

It is the shipper's responsibility to verify if there are any shipping restrictions for the country of origin or destination. This information can be found on the customs website of most countries.

AC Live News

July 20, 2015

Permanent Embargo for Snub-Nosed Breeds

Effective July 21, Air Canada will no longer accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds of dogs and cats for transportation in the cargo hold of its aircraft. This applies to pets travelling with Air Canada Cargo, and as checked baggage.

For their safety and comfort, warm-blooded animals cannot be transported during periods of extreme heat.

Air Canada Cargo does not accept warm-blooded animals for transport when the outside ground temperature is 29.5°C or higher at any location in the routing.

If the temperature is 29.5°C or higher at the departure city, the destination, or any point in between on a route with connections, animals will not be accepted and will therefore be rebooked for the next available flight(s).

Heat Restrictions: Warm-blooded Animals and Birds To and From Asia

FFrom July 1 through August 31 there is a Air Canada Cargo will not accept shipments of warm-blooded animals and birds to and from Asia (Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul) due to extreme heat.

For more information, please contact your local Air Canada Cargo representative or visit the AC Live section

May 13, 2015

US Restrictions from May 15 to September 30

United States: Restrictions for Shipping Animals from May 15 to September 30

Due to extreme heat and USDA regulations, the transport of live animals is prohibited or strictly regulated to and from airports in the following cities: Atlanta (ATL), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Houston (IAH) Las Vegas (LAS), Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO) and Phoenix International (PHX).

Exception: Day old chicks, cold blooded animals, provided they are tendered in containers that adhere to the current IATA Live Animal Container requirements.

April 30, 2015

Upcoming Holiday Restrictions for Pets and Live Animals Travelling to China

Please note that Air Canada Cargo will not be able to transport pets and live animals* to and from Beijing (PEK) and Shanghai (PVG) from May 1 to 3, as customs clearance for animals will not be available during an upcoming statutory holiday in China. Please contact our call center in Toronto at 1-800-387-4865 or your local representative (link to the Contact Us page) if you need to change an existing booking.
*The restriction doesn't apply to live lobster or seafood shipments.

January 29, 2015

Winter restrictions for hairless breeds

November 1 to March 31: Air Canada Cargo will not transport hairless breeds of cats and dogs during the winter months, for their comfort and security.

December 24, 2014

Pets Travelling to the European Union

The Pet Travel Scheme is used to create a single set of pet travel requirements across the European Union (EU), and includes the movement of pets with their owners.

The following changes to the Pet Travel Scheme will come into effect on the December 29, 2014. If you are travelling with a cat, dog or ferret to an EU member country, the following regulations will apply as of December 29:

No More Than Five Animals - A maximum of five pets can travel at once. If there are more than five, the animals will not be eligible to enter the EU under the Pet Travel Scheme. They will be deemed commercial and have to comply with commercial regulations (see Balai Directive).

No More Than Five Days Apart From Your Pet - The pet must travel within five days of its owner. The owner may designate another person to travel with the pet (this person's name must be added to the health certificate).

Selling or Sending a Pet to a New Home? Pets that will be sold, re-homed will not be eligible to travel under the EU Pet Travel Scheme. This means they will be deemed commercial and will need to comply with the Balai Directive.

What Else?
Under the Pet Travel Scheme, all dogs, cats and ferrets entering the EU will continue to require:

Micro chipping

Vaccination against rabies

A blood test 30 days after vaccination (if returning or travelling from an unlisted third country)

A waiting period after primary vaccination and prior to travel 21 days if travelling from another EU country or a listed third country

A waiting period of 3 months if travelling from an unlisted third country

Winter Restrictions for Pets and Animals

November to April: No Cats and Dogs on Select Aircraft
The cargo hold of some of our smaller aircraft are not heated. As such, from November 1 to March 31, some animals, including pets like cats and dogs, are not accepted as cargo on some flights. If there is a restriction in effect on your chosen flight, our customer service agents will let you know at the time of booking.

Exceptions - Reptiles, amphibians, live tropical fish, insects, worms, bees, live coral rock and rodent species can be transported during this period provided the packaging meets IATA Live Animal Regulations container requirements, and the appropriate waiver is filled out and signed by the shipper.

Holiday Restrictions for Cats and Dogs in North America
Cats and dogs are not accepted for transport with Air Canada Cargo within North America, or on international flights with a connection in North America, from December 15 to January 12.

The restriction applies all cats and dogs, as well as to shipments from breeders, kennels and freight forwarders, and pets travelling as checked baggage.

Cats and dogs are allowed on direct international flights. The restriction does not apply to other animals.

September 10, 2014

Live Animal Shipments to Haneda Airport Temporarily Suspended

Due to a customs and quarantine issue, live animal shipments to Japan's Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Aiport, HND) cannot be accepted until further notice. This ban does not apply to shipments to Narita International Airport (NRT). Please contact aclive@aircanada.com if you have any questions regarding live animal shipments to HND.

August 11, 2014

US-Bound Dogs Must Now Be Immunized Against Rabies

Effective August 11, 2014, the US Center for Disease Control requires that all dogs travelling to or being transported to the United Sates be fully immunized against rabies prior to entering the US.

The rabies vaccination must be administered no earlier than 12 weeks of age, and at least 30 days before arrival at a US port of entry. This means the youngest that a puppy can be to enter the US is 4 months of age.

Proof of immunization will be required for all dogs travelling to the US. Please make sure to have this documentation with you when bringing a dog to Air Canada Cargo. Visit our AC Live section for more information.

August 4, 2014

New requirements for transport of puppies and kittens

Air Canada Cargo is changing some of the requirements for the transport of puppies and kittens. For the comfort and well-being of these young animals, please note that effective August 15:

A valid health certificate from a veterinarian will be required for all puppies and kittens travelling on Air Canada Cargo, including those travelling within Canada.

The minimum age for puppies and kittens to travel on Air Canada Cargo will change to 12 weeks. Puppies and kitten under 12 weeks of age will not be accepted for carriage.

We thank you for your cooperation. For questions, please contact your local Air Canada Cargo representative, or contact acLive@aircanada.ca.

July 21, 2014

Strong dog breeds travelling with Air Canada Cargo

For their safety and comfort, strong dog breeds travelling with Air Canada Cargo must now be placed in containers that fall under requirement 82 of the IATA Live Animal Regulations. These containers are more robust than conventional plastic containers used to transport animals.

The following breeds are considered strong and are affected by this change:

American bulldog

Pit-bull (all breeds)

American Staffordshire terrier

Caucasian Shepherd

Dogo Argentina

Fila Brasileiro

Mastiff (all breeds)

Anatolian Shepherd

Presa Canario

Rottweiller

Band dog

Wolf Dog Hybrids

To find out more about the specifications for these containers, please contact an Air Canada Cargo Live agent (number or email) or your local Air Canada Cargo station.

If you have an existing booking for one of the breeds listed above, please call the station of origin to obtain the correct container specifications.